Family Difficulties Led Me To The Offence, Appellant Tells Court

Lamin Kanyi, the appellant told the Banjul High Court yesterday before Justice Joseph Wowo that the reason why he is appealing against his conviction and sentence by the Lower Court was that he is the breadwinner of the family.

According to the appellant, he got involved in the crime because of familial problems.

He submitted that he did not avert his mind to the consequence of the act he was doing.

According to him, he thought what he was engaged in would help him in the maintenance of the family, but instead added more sufferings to his family. He said he is therefore appealing against the “hard sentence”, as he is the only breadwinner of the family.

In response, the Principal State Counsel, Marley Wood told the court that the presiding magistrate in convicting and sentencing the appellant acted in accordance with the law.

According to her, the Drug Control Amendment Act of 2003 had provided for such punishment.

Lamin Kanyi was on 19 April 2008, found in possession of 2kilos, 200grames of cannabis. He was convicted and sentenced by the Brikama Magistrates’ Court, to a fine of D1m, in default to serve five years in prison. He was also sentenced to a mandatory jailed term of ten years.